Beck Walker, a pupil at Reading School, has received the Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) young hero award. Beck received his award from Jack Andrews of University College London at the annual CAP celebration which this year took place at the Welsh Assembly.
Jack Andrews said: “Beck is an inspirational young leader who is passionate about health and well-being. He has motivated his peers to take part in the Young Health Champions scheme at his school, which gives young people the skills, knowledge and confidence to act a peer mentors to help other pupils improve their health and wellbeing and understand unhealthy behaviours like alcohol misuse. The scheme relies on committed students like Beck to spread the word and organise activities, workshops, events and presentations. The assistant headteacher at his school describes Beck as one of the most driven, mature and inspirational young men she has had the pleasure to work with. We’d like to second that praise with this award for our young hero. Well done Beck.”
CAPs are made up of partnerships between retailers, local authorities, police, schools, neighbourhood groups and health providers, working together to empower communities to tackle alcohol-related harm to young people and improve the quality of life for residents. Its 2018 annual report, launched at the event, shows how this innovative partnership approach has positive impacts on underage drinking, anti-social behaviour, litter, residents' feelings of safety and underage/proxy alcohol purchase around the UK.
CAP Chair Derek Lewis said: “In spite of welcome evidence that fewer young people are drinking alcohol, British children are still more likely to binge drink and get drunk than children in most other European countries. Regular or excessive drinking can be seriously damaging to their health and development while increasing the risk of over-consumption in later life. CAPs offer an evidence based, proportionate and locally tailored response to underage alcohol problems.”
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For media information please contact: Julia Shipston, Communications Manager at CAP: tel: 0771 3163003.
Notes for Editors
• The first CAP was set up in St Neots in 2007 and 162 have now been launched across the UK.
• For more information, see our website at www.communityalcoholpartnerships.co.uk and follow us on Twitter: @CAPUKTweets